PL Finale: City reign, Tottenham in pain

Rollercoaster season concludes in style

To say that the 38th matchday of the 2011-12 Barclays Premier League season was extremely thrilling and dramatic would be an understatement, as the verdict on the season of many teams was held till the very last kick.

The Title Picture

Manchester City came from 2-1 behind to score two stoppage time goals against Queens Park Rangers to secure an incredible 3-2 win and with that, their first league title since 1968.

Pablo Zabaleta opened the scoring for the hosts at the stroke of half-time but Djibril Cisse equalized immediately after the interval.

Joey Barton was then sent off for the visitors after he elbowed Carlos Tevez at the edge of the box. While walking off the pitch, a furious Barton also delivered a knee to the back of Samir Nasri, which would inevitably prompt further charges.

Barton’s sending off did not derail the relegation-embattled QPR, who took the lead through Jamie Mackie in the 66th minute.

The Etihad Stadium was stunned and it remained a quiet place until the stoppage time, when the Citizens miraculously turned the tables on United.

Just as the Red Devils had marched on to a 1-0 win at Sunderland, Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero scored within two minutes to leapfrog Sir Alex Ferguson’s men on goal difference.

Wayne Rooney’s decisive goal at the Stadium of Light proved to be insufficient for the red half of Manchester, who were reduced to watching their noisy neighbors celebrate against all odds.

Relegation story

QPR may have lost the battle at the Eastlands but they won their war against the Premier League drop courtesy of Bolton’s 2-2 draw at Stoke City.

Needing a win to give themselves a shot at survival, the Trotters fell behind early to a Jonathan Walters goal. However, Mark Davies and Kevin Davies scored after the interval to put Owen Coyle’s men into the driving seat.

Ultimately, though, it wasn’t Bolton’s day as Walters scored a late penalty to take two invaluable points away from the visitors.

Bolton will now join the alreagy relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers in the Championship next season. Both the Wolves and the Rovers ended the season on a low note, losing to Wigan and Chelsea, respectively.

The European drama

Arsenal came from 2-1 down to win 3-2 away to West Bromwich Albion courtesy of massive goals scored by Andre Santos and Laurent Koscielny.

Yossi Benayoun had struck early for the Gunners but Shane Long and Graham Dorrans took little time to overturn the defensive error that had allowed the Israeli to put the visitors in front.

Newcastle’s 3-1 defeat at Everton spelled the end of their Champions League chances but Tottenham claimed a huge 2-0 win against Fulham at White Hart Lane after goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe either side of the interval.

While the Spurs finish the season fourth, frustration was evident in their half of North London as cross-town rivals Arsenal claimed the best record in London – and automatic Champions League qualification – at their expense with the much-wanted third-place finish.

Harry Redknapp’s men must now wait until Saturday’s Champions League final to determine their Champions League fate. A potential win for the Blues in Munich will allow them to defend their crown next season at the expense of the fourth-place Spurs.

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